The Malta Independent 22 July 2026, Wednesday
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UN human rights expert: European Union should do more to help migrants

Associated Press Tuesday, 25 August 2015, 11:00 Last update: about 12 years ago

A U.N. human rights expert says fences, tear gas, threats and deprivation of food, water and shelter won't keep refugees and migrants away.

Francois Crepeau, the U.N. special rapporteur on the human rights of migrants, says EU members should focus on controlling but not sealing borders, fighting anti-migrant sentiment and ensuring that migrants and asylum-seekers can move around, get jobs and integrate.

In a statement Tuesday, Crepeau said: "Let's not pretend that what the EU and its member states are doing is working. Migration is here to stay,"

Many European countries have been struggling to cope with a recent wave of migration.

Crepeau said EU officials should do more to counteract people-smugglers and create a massive resettlement program for refugees fleeing violence and persecution from places like Eritrea and Syria.

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